This is a step-by-step guide on how to complete Project 1 of the Assessment Units Upgrade.
1. The first thing that we will need to do is to understand the case study. Basically, the scenario is this: You are Abigail, and you are working as a Junior Instructional Designer. You have been tasked to design and develop three (3) assessment tools on the following units:
a. BSBITU101 – Operate a Personal Computer
b. BSBITU102 – Develop Keyboard skills
c. BSBITU201 – Produce simple word-processed documents
You should develop one assessment tool per unit. Each assessment tool must consist of at least two (2) assessment instruments, one that would address the practical component and another to address the knowledge component. The two most common assessment instruments developed are an “Observation Checklist” and a “Written Questionnaire.” It’s up to you if you want to have more than these two instruments.
You will need to book a trainer call as well to discuss the details of this Project with an Inspire trainer. Please complete this first before commencing with the Project.
If you have already completed the call task, kindly refer to a message sent to you by your trainer with the details for the Assessment Tool Development Plans.
2. PLAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS: The next step is to fill out an Assessment Tool Development Plan. You may download the template from this link: https://bit.ly/2DBaBib. You will only need to fill out parts 1 and 2 of the ATDP, and we will need to see three (3) of these, one for each unit.
a. Part 1 of the ATDP will be filled out with further details, which you will gather from your call task with the Inspire Trainer. The details above will help you to identify your target group of learners, how the assessment will be conducted, and other details that may help you in developing your assessment tools.
b. Part 2 of the ATDP will now be filled out by you. Basically, you just have to tick the assessment methods you have selected. Then, indicate the assessment instruments that you will develop based on the methods you have chosen. You will then explain the context of assessment (which is usually found in the assessment conditions). Here is an example:
For a list of assessment methods and potential assessment instruments, you may click on this link: http://bit.ly/2V5oWM2
3. COMPETENCY MAPPING - After filling out the assessment tool development plan, you then have to complete a competency map for each of the three units. You may download the competency mapping template from this link: http://bit.ly/2TLKPdO
a. The first thing you will need to do is to list down all the Performance Criteria, Performance Evidence, Knowledge Evidence and Assessment Conditions of the unit from training.gov.au. Please ensure that you write the mapping in the correct tab on the template and not in the instructions tab as seen in the following image:
https://i.snag.gy/IyErq6.jpg
b. Then, you must identify which PC, PE, and KE will be addressed in your assessment instruments. For example, you will develop an observation checklist based on the performance criteria and performance evidence of the unit, and your knowledge questions will be based on the knowledge evidence. You will then have to identify the specific items/task numbers mapped against the criteria. It’s very important that all the components of the unit are covered, and that there are no gaps. It’s also very important that you input the information in the correct tab in the competency mapping (see screenshot to know what I’m referring to: https://snag.gy/IyErq6.jpg).
Here is an example to give you an idea of what the competency mapping should look like.
4. DEVELOP THE INSTRUMENTS - After the mapping, you then have to develop the actual instruments themselves. You may use our templates to help you on this one, or you can design and develop them your own way. Just make sure that you have provided clear and specific instructions in your assessment tools. Here are the templates you can use: DIRECT OBSERVATION - https://bit.ly/2QrNBDC
ORAL QUESTIONNAIRE - https://bit.ly/2ykOFT8
THIRD PARTY REPORT - https://bit.ly/2COgUgV
WRITTEN QUESTIONNAIRE - https://bit.ly/2OQp8uE
These are just a selection of assessment instruments you can choose from. You do not have to use all of them. Based on your ATDP, what will your instruments be?
5. REVIEW OF THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS - After you have designed and developed your assessment tools for all three units, your next step would be to conduct a review of the assessment tools. Here is a link to download the Assessment Tool Review Form: https://bit.ly/2OLdrGb.
For the review, you need two (2) volunteers. You can get any two adult volunteers to serve as your reviewers. Have them review the assessment tool for each of the three units. Remember, each tool consists of the assessment instruments that you have designed and developed for each of the three units.
The Assessment Tool Review Form consists of specific criteria your reviewers can refer to. If they feel that the criteria have been met by the tool, they must tick the box. If the criteria have not been met, they may leave the box unticked. They would then have to provide a comment explaining what needs to be amended.
Here is an example for your reference. In the “Assessment Tool” section, make sure to indicate there ALL the instruments that were developed for that unit.
cid:image003.jpg@01D4D42C.751DBE00
All in all, we need to see a total of SIX (6) Assessment Tool Review Forms. Basically, we need to see the following:
Assessment Tool for BSBITU101
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 2
Assessment Tool for BSBITU102
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 2
Assessment Tool for BSBITU201
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Tool Review Form from Volunteer 2
6. AMEND THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS IF NEEDED - Once the Review has been completed, please check if amendments are required. If so, make sure to apply those amendments to your assessment instruments, and submit a “version 2” of the instruments as well.
Next, record these amendments in the Completed Amendments Table, which you can find in your Assessment Units Upgrade workbook at around page 75. This is the table I am referring to:
cid:image005.png@01D4D42A.50B485F0
IF NO AMENDMENTS ARE REQUIRED, no need to create a version 2. Then, you may just write “N/A – no amendments required” in the table.
7. TRIAL THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS - After having conducted the review (and making any necessary changes to the tool), you will now need to have these tools trialed. For the trial, facilitate a simulation of conducting the assessment, and have your volunteers try answering the assessment tools. You can have the tools trialed by the same volunteers, and they will have to fill out the Assessment Trial Feedback Form, which you can download here: https://bit.ly/2QPqeES
Here is an example for your reference:
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Please have these forms printed and hand-signed for authenticity purposes. Again, we need to see six (6) participant feedback forms.
Assessment Tool for BSBITU101
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 2
Assessment Tool for BSBITU102
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 2
Assessment Tool for BSBITU201
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 1
· Assessment Trial Feedback Form from Volunteer 2
8. AMEND THE ASSESSMENT TOOLS AGAIN IF NEEDED - The final step will involve amending the assessment tools for a final time if required. If, after the trial, your volunteers suggested further changes, please apply those changes to the instruments and create a FINAL version of the assessment instruments. Then, fill out the completed final amendments table at around page 85 of your workbook. This is what that table looks like:
cid:image009.jpg@01D4D42C.751DBE00
Once again, if no amendments are required, you will not need to create a final version. You may also just write “N/A – No amendments required” in the table.
These are basically the steps involved in Project 1 of the Assessment Units Upgrade. I also strongly recommend that you watch the pre-recorded webinar on Project 1, which you can access by going to “My Courses” > click on your course > Click on “Assessment Units Upgrade” > Project 1 Webinar.